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PIP2 depletion and altered endocytosis caused by expression of Alzheimer's disease-protective variant PLCγ2 R522.

ABSTRACT: Variants identified in genome-wide association studies have implicated immune pathways in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis for protection from AD associated with PLCγ2 R522, a rare coding variant of the PLCG2 gene. We studied the variant's role in macrophages and microglia of newly generated PLCG2-R522-expressing human induced pluripotent cell lines (hiPSC) and knockin mice, which exhibit normal endogenous PLCG2 expression. In all models, cells expressing the R522 mutation show a consistent non-redundant hyperfunctionality in the context of normal expression of other PLC isoforms. This manifests as enhanced release of cellular calcium ion stores in response to physiologically relevant stimuli like Fc-receptor ligation or exposure to Aβ oligomers. Expression of the PLCγ2-R522 variant resulted in increased stimulus-dependent PIP₂ depletion and reduced basal PIP₂ levels in vivo. Furthermore, it was associated with impaired phagocytosis and enhanced endocytosis. PLCγ2 acts downstream of other AD-related factors, such as TREM2 and CSF1R, and alterations in its activity directly impact cell function. The inherent druggability of enzymes such as PLCγ2 raises the prospect of PLCγ2 manipulation as a future therapeutic approach in AD.

SUBMITTER: Maguire E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8408593 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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PIP2 depletion and altered endocytosis caused by expression of Alzheimer's disease-protective variant PLCγ2 R522.

Maguire Emily E Menzies Georgina E GE Phillips Thomas T Sasner Michael M Williams Harriet M HM Czubala Magdalena A MA Evans Neil N Cope Emma L EL Sims Rebecca R Howell Gareth R GR Lloyd-Evans Emyr E Williams Julie J Allen Nicholas D ND Taylor Philip R PR

The EMBO journal 20210713 17

Variants identified in genome-wide association studies have implicated immune pathways in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis for protection from AD associated with PLCγ2 R522, a rare coding variant of the PLCG2 gene. We studied the variant's role in macrophages and microglia of newly generated PLCG2-R522-expressing human induced pluripotent cell lines (hiPSC) and knockin mice, which exhibit normal endogenous PLCG2 expression. In all models, c ...[more]

PMID: 34254352

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Project description:BackgroundPhospholipase C gamma 2, proline 522 to arginine (PLCγ2-P522R) is a protective variant that reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, it was shown to mitigate β-amyloid pathology in a 5XFAD mouse model of AD. Here, we investigated the protective functions of the PLCγ2-P522R variant in a less aggressive APP/PS1 mouse model of AD and assessed the underlying cellular mechanisms using mouse and human microglial models.MethodsThe effects of the protective PLCγ2-P522R variant on microglial activation, AD-associated β-amyloid and neuronal pathologies, and behavioral changes were investigated in PLCγ2-P522R knock-in variant mice crossbred with APP/PS1 mice. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional studies were carried out using microglia isolated from mice carrying the PLCγ2-P522R variant. Finally, microglia-like cell models generated from human blood and skin biopsy samples of PLCγ2-P522R variant carriers were employed.ResultsThe PLCγ2-P522R variant decreased β-amyloid plaque count and coverage in female APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, the PLCγ2-P522R variant promoted anxiety in these mice. The area of the microglia around β-amyloid plaques was also increased in mice carrying the PLCγ2-P522R variant, while β-amyloid plaque-associated neuronal dystrophy and the levels of certain cytokines, including IL-6 and IL-1β, were reduced. These alterations were revealed through [18F]FEPPA PET imaging and behavioral studies, as well as various cytokine immunoassays, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, and immunohistochemical analyses using mouse brain tissues. In cultured mouse primary microglia, the PLCγ2-P522R variant reduced the size of lipid droplets. Furthermore, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that the PLCγ2-P522R variant regulated key targets and pathways involved in lipid metabolism, mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and inflammatory/interferon signaling in acutely isolated adult mouse microglia and human monocyte-derived microglia-like cells. Finally, the PLCγ2-P522R variant also increased mitochondrial respiration in human iPSC-derived microglia.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the PLCγ2-P522R variant exerts protective effects against β-amyloid and neuronal pathologies by increasing microglial responsiveness to β-amyloid plaques in APP/PS1 mice. The changes observed in lipid/fatty acid and mitochondrial metabolism revealed by the omics and metabolic assessments of mouse and human microglial models suggest that the protective effects of the PLCγ2-P522R variant are potentially associated with increased metabolic capacity of microglia.

Project description:PLCγ2-P522R (phospholipase C gamma 2, proline 522 to arginine) is a protective variant that reduces the risk for late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). Recently, it was shown to decrease β-amyloid pathology in 5XFAD mouse model of AD. In this study, our goal was to investigate the protective functions of PLCγ2-P522R variant in less aggressive mouse model of AD as well as to assess underlying mechanisms at the molecular and cellular level using mouse and human microglia models. The effects of the protective PLCγ2-P522R variant on microglia activation, AD-related β-amyloid and neuronal pathologies, as well as behavioral changes were investigated in PLCγ2-P522R knock-in mice crossbred with an APP/PS1 mouse model of AD. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional studies were carried out in cultured and acutely isolated adult PLCγ2-P522R mouse microglia to study molecular mechanisms. Finally, microglia-like cell models generated from blood and skin biopsy samples of the PLCγ2-P522R variant carriers were employed to translate the key findings in human cells. Our results demonstrate that the PLCγ2-P522R variant reduces brain β-amyloid plaque burden of APP/PS1 mice. Simultaneously, PLCγ2-P522R variant increased non-proinflammatory microglia activation and microglia clustering around β-amyloid plaques, leading to reduced β-amyloid plaque-associated neuronal dystrophy. In cultured mouse primary microglia, PLCγ2-P522R variant decreased accumulation of large lipid droplets, reduced cell stress, and increased acute response to strong inflammatory stimuli. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses in acutely isolated adult mouse microglia as well as in human monocyte-derived microglial cells showed that PLCγ2-P522R upregulates mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and downregulates inflammatory/interferon signaling pathways. Accordingly, PLCγ2-P522R increased mitochondrial respiration in iPSC -derived microglial cells. Together, these findings suggest that PLCγ2-P522R variant exerts protection against AD-associated β-amyloid and neuronal pathologies via enhancing microglial barrier formation around β-amyloid plaques, but suppressing pro-inflammatory activation. Observed changes in fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial flexibility as well as the downregulation of genes involved in inflammatory signaling pathways suggest that these protective effects of the PLCγ2-P522R variant are mediated through an anti-ageing mechanism.

Dataset Information

PIP2 depletion and altered endocytosis caused by expression of Alzheimer's disease-protective variant PLCγ2 R522.

Publications

PIP2 depletion and altered endocytosis caused by expression of Alzheimer's disease-protective variant PLCγ2 R522.

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